This following article had originally been published on a different website that is no longer available. We are reproducing it here, the indented text, with the permission of the original author, since there is hardly anything available on this topic, written by Christians. What follows is one possible Christian answer, but not the only one. For a different approach, see David Wood's report about a Mubahala that he accepted: Mubahala: A Prayer-Duel With A Muslim.
I have been challenged by a Muslim to a "cursing contest". This seems to be the "in thing" now.
The following was published after a debate on a Muslim webpage. The original article is in green, my comments are black.
The Curse
The final question at the Debate was posed to both speakers. The question was in accordance with the following verse of the Qur'an:
"Come let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then we pray and invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie." [Qur'an 3:61]
Many misunderstood the question. The request was not for any of the speakers to send out curses upon each other, but rather to pray to God for Him to curse those who are the liars.
A curse always involves invoking the power of a higher being, either a spirit or a god. This is true for most religions and even animistic belief systems. To invoke the curse of a Allah is therefore no different from cursing in general.
It is also plain from the context of the debate that the Muslims who made this challenge believe that they are speaking the truth and the Christians are not. It is clear that in effect the Muslims are invoking the curse of Allah on the Christians and therefore in effect cursing them.
Smith, perhaps as to be expected, refused to accept this challenge. Why? He (and others in the audience) hid behind the banner that, as a Christian, he was not allowed to curse due to his religion not permitting it. We find this hard to accept when we read that the Bible has the following to say:
Jesus Curses the Fig-Tree:
"In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig-tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus: 'Rabbi, look! The fig-tree you cursed is withered'." [Mark 11:20-21]
Jesus cursed a tree, not a person!To find out why Jesus cursed the fig tree, click here! (The reason may not be so obvious as you thought...)
Noah Curses Canaan:
"He (Noah) said, 'Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of the slaves will he be to his brothers.'" [Genesis 9:25]
Read the context: Noah just woke from a drunken stupor. Would you commend everything somebody does in that state of mind?
An Angel Curses Meroz:
"Curse Meroz, said the angel of the Lord. Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the Lord." [Judges 5:23]
An angel is a messenger of God, not a human. Man may not revenge, but God may, man may not invoke curses, but God may curse if He wants to. Sometimes a prophet would recieve direct revelation from God, and pronounce a curse on someone. This falls in the same category as the angel. See below.
Peter Curses Himself:
"Then he (Peter) began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them: 'I don't know the man.'" [Matthew 26:74]
Peters actions described here are definitely not commended by the Bible. Peter repented of his sin afterwards. Please read the context: Jesus was being tried in court under false charges, and Peter wanted to remain "under cover".Matthew 26:69 " Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.God Curses the Wicked:
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."
"The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous." [Proverbs 3:33]
God Warns the Priests of His Curse:
"And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honour my name, says the Lord Almighty. I will send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honour me." [Malachi 2:1-2]
God curses people when He thinks it is necessary. It is important to note that God's curse in the Bible is ALWAYS the consequence of sin. Sin seperates man from God, seperation from God is always catastrophic. In fact, hell is none other than complete seperation from God. God NEVER SANCTIONED the cursing of one person by another in the Bible, although His curse AS A CONSEQUENCE OF SIN is often stated.Deuteronomy 11: 26 "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;That does not mean we have the right to tell Him who to do it to, or when to do it. In fact, we are clearly told that we do NOT HAVE THAT RIGHT.
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known."Daniel 9:11 "Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him."
Matthew 5:44 " But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you... "This "cursing contest" is something that is without precedent in the Bible, and clearly not a thing Christians should get involved in! Any Muslim can, however, feel free to curse me, if he has the need to do some cursing. He should not be surprised, however, if nothing came of it!Romans 12:14 "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. "
James 3:8 "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? "
We might therefore ask: If, in the Bible, God curses, Noah curses, an Angel curses, and Jesus is prepared to curse, who is it then that the Christian's claim to be following when they assert that they are neither permitted nor are they prepared to curse? Certainly, they are not following any of the aforementioned, nor the Bible!
"Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Surely, falsehood is ever bound to vanish." [Qur'an 17:81]
Amen Since we love you, dear Muslim friend, we cannot invoke God's curse on you.
But know this: The consequece of sin is seperation from God, also known as the "curse of God".
We pray that you will realise this, and escape God's curse by accepting His gift of love and redemption: Jesus Christ.
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